Selfoss (town)
| Selfoss | |
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| Town | |
Night view in December
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| Location of the Municipality of Árborg Location of the Municipality of Árborg |
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 Selfoss
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Country |  Iceland |
| Constituency[1] | South Constituency |
| Region[2] | Southern Region |
| Municipality | Árborg |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2 km2 (0.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 6,512 |
| • Density | 3,137/km2 (8,120/sq mi) |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC+0) |
| Website | Official website |
Selfoss is a town in southern Iceland on the banks of the Ölfusá river.
It is part, and seat, of the municipality Árborg. The Ring Road (Icelandic: Hringvegur) runs through the town on its way between Hveragerði and Hella. It is a centre of commerce and small industries of 6,512 inhabitants (2011), which makes it the largest residential area in South Iceland.
Contents
Geography
The town is located on the southwestern coast of Iceland, 50 km from Reykjavík. It is the major town and the administrative seat of the Southern Region. The closest towns are Stokkseyri, Eyrarbakki and Hveragerði.
History
Name
Although "foss" means waterfall in Icelandic, there are no waterfalls in the town.
Overview
Selfoss was settled by Þórir Ásason sometime after 1000; however, the Icelandic sagas mention that Ingólfur Arnarson was here during the winter of 873-74 under the mountain Ingólfsfjall, which is west of the Ölfusá.
In the summer of 1891, due to the lobbying of Tryggvi Gunnarsson, a member of the Alþing, the first suspension bridge was built over the Ölfusá. This was a major undertaking for Icelandic infrastructure. The bridge made the town a logical centre for services for the surrounding agricultural region. The current bridge was built in 1945 after the original structure collapsed.
In 1900 there were only 40 inhabitants, but by 2006 the population had climbed to 6,000.
In 1931 the dairy firm Mjólkurbú Flóamanna and general store Kaupfélag Árnesinga were established. These two companies were the main employers in the area for several decades. During World War II the British stationed troops at Selfoss to guard the strategic bridge.
Current history
Today, with more efficient transportation, the town enjoys the proximity to the Reykjavík area and is predicted to grow in coming years as businesses and residents will relocate to it because of lower property prices. This has also led to many relocating their homes from Reykjavík to much calmer Selfoss. It enjoys low rates of unemployment and is the home of one of the largest colleges in the country FSU Fjölbrautaskóli Suðurlands. In early August, the town holds a festival called "Sumar á Selfossi", meaning "Summer in Selfoss". Local residents decorate their gardens with ribbons, coloured according to neighbourhood, and a fete is held on the public grassland behind the civic library. The fete involves selling of homemade goods on small stalls, performances by musicians and magicians on a temporary stage, and in 2011 a "Strongest Man" competition was held, with video recording by Icelandic television channel Stöð 2. In the evening, the revelry continues with a large bonfire and free fireworks display.
Selfoss is the town in which chess player Bobby Fischer is buried.[3]
2008 earthquake
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Wikinews has related news: Strong earthquake strikes southwestern Iceland |
According to the United States Geological Survey, an earthquake with a moment magnitude 6.3 occurred near Selfoss on the afternoon of Thursday 29 May 2008, causing considerable damage to some buildings and roads.[4][5] The earthquake was felt across southern Iceland, including the capital Reykjavík and the airbase at Keflavik. At least 30 people were injured; however, there were no reports of human deaths.[6] A number of sheep in the Selfoss area were killed.[5]
Sports
The football club UMF Selfoss have played since 1932 and in the Icelandic leagues since 1966. The club spent two seasons in the top division Úrvalsdeild, in 2010 and 2012, but were relegated in both seasons.
The professional basketball club in Selfoss is FSu, part of the local college and the club serves as both a development academy with young players that attend the school, and a professional team which currently competes in Division 1 but has spent time in the premier league.
Transport
Selfoss sits on Route 1, the Icelandic ring road, and is the first major stop east of Reykjavik.
Selfoss Airport is a privately run airstrip located just to the southwest of the town.
Notable people
- Guðni Ágústsson, politician.
- Vésteinn Hafsteinsson, former discus thrower and a coach.
- Bjarni Harðarson, politician, writer, and bookseller.
- Jón Arnar Magnússon, former decathlete
- Davíð Oddsson, politician was brought up in Selfoss.
- Björgvin G. Sigurðsson, politician.
- Thorir Hergeirsson, handball coach for the Norway women's national handball team.
- Þórir Ólafsson, handballer.
- Gunnar Ólason, a member of the band Skítamórall.
See also
- List of cities in Iceland
- Laugardælir - closest town to Selfoss.
References
- ↑ Political division
- ↑ Mainly statistical division
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External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Selfoss. |
- (Icelandic) Árborg municipal website
- Map of Selfoss
